Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-03-03
AT THE CAPITOL TO-DAY.
THE LAST LEGISLATIVE DAY.
BUSY TIME IN BOTH HOUSES.
Rushing the Appropriation Bills.

Rushing the Appropriation Bills.
The Senate reassembed, as in continuation OF
yesterdays session, at 10 a. m.
Messages from the President were laid before the
Senate In reply to resolutions heretofore adopted,
one as to the terms ON which cable companies had
been permitted to land their cables on the Ameri-
can shore, and as to their contracts with each
other ana with telegraph companies; the seconq
the Revolution. The latter latter was sa accompanied by
reports from the Secretary Of State, Treasury and
war Laid on the table and ordered printed.
Mr. EdmundS withdrew his motion to reconsider
the vote whereby the Senate few days since
passed the House bill to confirm to Emile Guerin
and Chen p. Major title to certain lands In Point
Coupee parish, La. The bill Is therefore passed.
THE NAVAL APPROPRIATION BILL
message from the House announcing nOn-con-
currence In the Senate amendments to the naval
appropriation bill was presented and conference
was ordered Messrs. Hale, Allison and Beck were
On Motion OF Mr.. Dawes the House bill for the
ndr 81 % H6aT M Morrison MO W va to pay
from the calendar and passed.
DISTRICT BILLS PASSED.
The following District OF Columbia House bills
were passed; to quiet title to certain land in the
city OF Washington; for the relief of St. Domnic's
church.
THK CABLE BILL NOT TAKEN UP.
A motion to take up the Washington cable rail-
way bill was negatived.
HOUSE BILLS PASSED.
The Senate then proceeded to the consideration
OF House bills on the calendar. The follow
Ing were passed: For the repair and preservation
OF the road leading to the vtcksburg National
cemetery; Tor the relief OF Thomas p. WeStmOre-
land OF Atlanta, Ga; for the relief OF Samuel F.
Rice, OF Montgomery, Ala, with amendment)
THE LAST LEGISLATIVE DAY.
At few minutes before IL O'Clock the Senate
closed the legislative day of Wednesday by adj
Journment, and at IL opened the last legislative
day OF the Forty ninth Congress, when prayer was
offered by the chaplain.
TO INVESTIGATE THE DEPARTMENTS.
The resolution offered yesterday by Mr.. Cock
rell for select committee Of five Senators to
anime into the business methods Of the executive
departments in Washington; the causes of delay
in the transaction Of public business; as to the
necessity for additional buildings, &C., was taken
up.
Mr.. Van Wyck moved to amend by inserting
'alsO the causes OF delays in the public business
in Congress, so as to authorize the committee to
inquire into that.
Mr.. Allison remarked that that did not need any
investigation.
Mr. Van Wyck retorted that it was just as nee
essary as the other, and that remedy is more
necessary.
Mr.: Vest opposed the resolution. saying that it
was the duty the civil service committee of the
senate TO make such an inquiry as proposed.
WITH REGARD TO PUBLIC BUILDINGS
Mr. Vest maintained that it was the duty OF the
committee on public buildings and grounds to
look after that branch OF the public service. He
that the committee had been d1ligent. The SEN
ate had three times passed bill of hts (Vestsl
making an appropriation for the erection OF fire.
proof hall OF records for the preservation OF public
records Mr.. Vest said the Importance OF that
building was conceded, but the House had never
passed the bill. Mr.. Van Wyck made an argument
tod IN knn
what delay existed in the departments. He had
not heard OF any except such as resulted from the
to provide the additional clerks necessary. Mr.
Van Wyck criticised Congress for its habit of
wasting the early months Of the session and thus
S1dered in the last days.
After some further debate the resolution was
adopted in its original form.
The conference report on the House bill authOr-
lZlng The employment OF male messengers in the
postal service was made and concurred in
THE LEGISLATIVE APPROPRIATION BILL.
The Senate then, at half past IL, proceeded to
the consideration Of the legislative, executive and
judicial appropriation bill, voting on the amend
ments recommended by the committee on apnro
pr1ations as they were reached.
AS the committee on appropriations had reported
very few amendments to the bill, and those of hut
little importance, there was no delay beyond that
made necessary by the complete reading OF the
bill Ola printed pages, which was done very rap
idly, and at half-past 1 the end was reached.
Then there were some propositions to increase sal
aries, but none OF them were successful
statement en- ,,s,r was mace a 6y Mr. Allison, in re-
effect that on the whole, there was no increase in
the clerical force OF the departments provided in
ury department, and about a proportiOnate in
crease in the Interior and War departments
from 500 to $500 year was adopted
Mr.. Edmunds wanted to increase the pay OF
Major Merritt to 81 600
Mr., Harris wanted to increase the nav nf tho
assistant In the folding room from 81 200 to 44O
but these amendments were ruled out on points OF
order.
On motion OF Mr.. Hoar an amendment was
adopted to require the law library to be kept open
even il that be all night.
Mr.. Edmunds said the library was not provided
with lights sufficient to illuminate it at night.
Mr.. Allison said that the deficiency bill which
would be Immediately reported, and he hoped
passed; contained provision for lighting the
entire Senate wing with electricity.
DEPARTMENTS ASKING FOR ADDITIONAL CLERICAL
FORCE.
In the course Of debate on the bill, an inquiry
was made as to what provision had been made by
the appropriations committee for additional clert
cal force & for some Of the departments
remember that the bill only came to the commit
tee yesterday morning. He said that all the de-
additional clerical force, and the committee had
not had time to inquire into the matter and deter
mine @ what additional force ought to be provided.
into the subject OF providing additional force for
various bureaus but they were satisfied that some
OF the bureaus must have additional force II the
current work is to be brought up.
NIGHT WORK OF CLERKS
Mr. Cullum said that In the adjutant generals
Office clerks were required to do extra service; to
work at night under penalty OF summary dismissal
II they refused. He gave notice that he (Cullom>
intended to make war that sort OF policy to the
bitter end This government was amply able to
pay for service rendered.
Mr. Teller said that to his personal knowledge
the additional force asked for bv the Interior de-
vided ~ f
Mr. Conger moved to increase the salary OF the
cnlef clerk OF the life saving service.
MI Allison moved to lay the amendments on the
taDie, saying that it was but the beginning OF
series or such amendments, and 1t was too late in
the session now TO enter upOn the question OF In
creasng clerical forces In the bureaus
me Dill was passed as reported from the COM
mlttee With the amendments heretofore noticed
THE SUNDRY CIVIL BILL
The conference report on the sundry civil bill
was agreed TO.
House Of Representatives.
The chaplain this morning offered the following
prayer:
Almighty God, we give Thee most hearty
khnvl